Rise in play continues with vengeance on NMSU

Wednesday, February 8

Phoenix, Ariz.

7 p.m.

Grand Canyon

16-8,7-4WAC

New Mexico State

9-15,2-10WAC

New Mexico St.

Grand Canyon

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 8 2023: GCU beats NMSU 78-67 at GCU Arena.

2/8/2023 9:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro

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GCU storms to 18-point lead, reasserts defense in 2nd straight win

By: Paul Coro

If that was goodbye for good, Grand Canyon delivered a proper farewell to New Mexico State in the eyes and from the vocal chords of Havocs and Lope Nation fans on hand Wednesday night.

The Lopes used their best first half since November to take command and held off the Aggies in the second half for a 78-67 victory at sold-out GCU Arena.

The Lopes' first consecutive wins since two victories that opened conference play maintained their spot amid the WAC top five and kept New Mexico State in the 13-team conference's basement.

After exchanging 3-0 sweeps in the previous two seasons, GCU (16-8, 7-4 WAC) started the conference series' swan song with the bravado of an 18-point lead and the steel to stave off every comeback push.

"It was just toughness," said Lopes junior power forward Gabe McGlothan, who posted a 14-point, nine-rebound, two-block game. "They're a rival to us. They're leaving the conference after this (for Conference USA), so protect the home court.
Phoenix, AZ Feb. 8 2023: GCU beats NMSU 78-67 at GCU Arena.

"This is what school spirit is about – everyone backing each other. 'Electrolope' was literally electric."

McGlothan lit up the Aggies (9-15, 2-10 WAC) for nine consecutive Lopes points that cranked up the GCU Arena atmosphere even more during an 11-4 start.

The Lopes returned to their elite defensive ways for most of the game, keeping New Mexico State to 20 points and 24% shooting until five late points narrowed GCU's halftime lead to 41-25.

"We really worked hard in that week off," Lopes head coach Bryce Drew said of the defense improvement. "We worked hard this week to try to get better. We did see some plays that we practiced.

"Hopefully, it's going to continue to get better. And then we've just got to be stronger. We can't get housed by guys backing us down and scoring. I thought the last seven minutes was the defense that we really like and that we want to play."

GCU needed a strong defensive finish because New Mexico State made it a single-possession game on four second-half occasions.

After not scoring in the game's first 7 1/2 minutes, Harrison notched his 18th consecutive double-digit scoring game and came up with responses to every Aggies run in the second half.

When New Mexico State cut the lead to 43-41, Harrison scored on a drive and a jumper on consecutive possessions for his first second-half shot attempts. When it was a 53-52 GCU lead, Harrison made a fadeaway jumper and hurled a Super Bowl quarterback pass to redshirt freshman Kobe Knox, who caught the post pattern in stride like his NFL receiver father, Kevin, for a slam.

And when GCU pulled away for good, it was Harrison's 3-pointer that capped a 7-0 run to take the lead back to double digits on his 18-point night.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 8 2023: GCU beats NMSU 78-67 at GCU Arena.

"That's because I know Coach Drew trusts me," Harrison said of being assertive on key possessions. "Knowing that my coach trusts me gives the confidence I need to perform in those situations."

That was the end of the Aggies' serious threats with the defense turning tougher on a McGlothan blocked shot and Harrison taken charge during the Lopes' key 12-2 run late in the game.

"It made us feel like we had a cushion out there," Harrison said of GCU's defense. "Even though we were hitting shots at times, our defense was able to save us."

Harrison had company on key baskets from graduate forward Noah Baumann, who was coming off his first game without a field goal since Dec. 10. Baumann scored 15 in 24 minutes off the bench, making 3 of 6 shots from 3-point range to keep him at an amazing 50% clips (32 for 64) over the past 17 games.

Sophomore guard Chance McMillian gave GCU a fourth double-digit scorer with 12, putting him at 14 points per game since moving into the starting lineup for the past nine games.

Phoenix, AZ Feb. 8 2023: GCU beats NMSU 78-67 at GCU Arena.

The Lopes shot 48% from the field and made 17 of 19 free throws, their second-best clip of the season.

Harrison said he "inherited the beef" with New Mexico State after hearing from teammates and coaches about the game's meaning. The Lopes also had former standout players Joshua Braun and Jerome Garrison, now GCU employees, talk to the team on Tuesday.

"We talked about our motto in the athletic department is 'More Than Us,' " Drew said. "Jerome Garrison talked about that yesterday. This wasn't just a win for our team. This was a win for Lope Nation, and on our home court, that we could all be part of it. Really proud of our guys that we were able to do that for Lope Nation."

GCU returns to the road Saturday for a game at Seattle U that could push the Lopes past the Redhawks in the WAC Resume Seeding System, which will determine WAC Tournament seeding. Seattle U (17-8, 8-4 WAC) defeated Utah Tech 82-75 at home Wednesday night.

"We're not at our ceiling but I feel like we're approaching it, which is perfect timing coming into March," Harrison said. "We need to be right where we are."